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Andy Farrell calls for steel from England when they face South Africa this weekend

Andy Farrell feels his England will need to show plenty of resolve if they are to beat South Africa at Twickenham.

Last Updated: 21/11/12 12:12pm

Andy Farrell: Ready for another tough examination by the Springboks this weekend

Farrell called on England's team, which will be named later on Tuesday, to invoke the spirit of Port Elizabeth, harking back to the 18-18 draw in the third Test over the summer.

That result left Springboks coach Heyneke Meyer furious, claiming his men had let their country down by not completing a 3-0 whitewash, and Farrell expects them to be equally as tough opponents away from their home turf.

"We've got to remind the team of Port Elizabeth," said Farrell. "In that game we took our defensive game to them and that is how it has got to be this weekend.

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"There was a fighting spirit in that game. It shone out massively, you could see our intent to not let South Africa do what they do best, which is batter the gain-line door down. We did it well that day.

"The South Africans were pretty annoyed to draw that game.

"They realised we were good that day, we got among them and got stuck in and I'm sure they will pick a team to combat that.

"South Africa have a way of playing, they don't change much and they have some big boys. But they will have a few intricacies. You have to expect the unexpected.

"With any top tier team you have to go and put pressure on the opposition. We did that at times against Australia but I thought Kurtley Beale and Berrick Barnes ran the show.

"They were inventive in what they did and you would expect to be broken down once or twice but it was maybe once or twice too many times at the weekend.

"But our endeavour to defend our own line, especially in the first half, was outstanding so we need more of the same there."